Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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PREGNANCY BELIEF
JEWISH PEOPLE HAVE A SPECIAL WAY OF TELLING WHETHER AN
UNBORN CHILD IS A BOY OR A GIRL. IF A WOMAN IN HER SEVENTH MONTH
OF PREGNANCY IS CARRYING THE BABY HIGH AND DISTENDED, THE
CHILD IS DEFINITELY A BOY. IF THE BABY IS CARRIED LOW AND
FLATTER ON THE ABDOMEN, THE BABY IS A GIRL.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-00-1969
PREGNANCY BELIEF
IF AN EXPECTANT MOTHER HAS LOTS OF HEARTBURN, THE BABY WILL HAVE
LOTS OF HAIR.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 09-27-1968
PREGNANCY BELIEF
A PREGNANT WOMAN IS PROHIBITED FROM PICKING FRUIT FROM A TREE OR
THE TREE WILL DIE.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BIRTH BELIEF
IF A CHILD IS CONCEIVED AND THE MOTHER IS LATER MARRIED
TO THE FATHER, THE BABY WILL BE A GIRL, AND WILL BE CALLED
A LOVE BABY.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IN THE HOSPITAL.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): NAME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
PREGNANCY BELIEF
MANY FEMALE PATIENTS EXPLAIN THEIR BAD TEETH AS BEING THE
RESULT OF CHILD BEARING. MANY MORE ASK THEIR DENTISTS IF HAVING
CHILDREN WILL CAUSE THEIR TEETH TO FALL OUT.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT IS A DENTIST WHO HEARD THE MATTER FROM HIS PATIENTS.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-22-1965
BIRTH BELIEF
TAKE A PENCIL WITH AN ERASER ON IT AND STICK THE POINT ON A
THREADED NEEDLE. NOW HOLD THE THREAD, SUSPENDING THE PENCIL OVER THE
PULSE POINT OF A GIRL. THE PENCIL SHOULD START MOVING IN A CIRCULAR
OR LINEAR MOTION. IF CIRCULAR, HER FIRST CHILD WILL BE A GIRL.
IN A LINEAR PATH, A BOY.
CONTINUE PERFORMING UNTIL MOTION STOPS, THIS WILL TELL YOU HOW
MANY CHILDREN SHE WILL HAVE.
Submitter comment: ANOTHER ONE ALIKE IN THE ARCHIVE.
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANAPEL ANEPEL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 04-00-1968
MARBLE GAME
THIS MARBLE GAME IS PLAYED WITH A HOLE IN THE
GROUND. A HOLE IS DUG IN THE ALLEY AND A MARBLE
PUT IN IT. YOU THEN THROW YOUR MARBLE AT THE
HOLE. IF IT GOES IN, YOU COLLECT THE MARBLE IN
THE HOLE AND ALL OF THE MARBLES THAT WERE THROWN
BUT DID NOT GO IN.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HIS NEIGHBORHOOD FRIENDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement C560.12 |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
TWO MAN PICKLE
THIS IS A BALL GAME PLAYED WITH TWO CATCHERS AND ANY
NUMBER OF RUNNERS. THE TWO CATCHERS STAND BY
'BASES' AND THROW THE BALL TO EACH OTHER WHILE THE
RUNNERS, WHO ARE ON BASE, TRY TO RUN TO THE OTHER
BASE. THERE CAN BE MORE THAN ONE PERSON TO A BASE.
TO GET TO THE OTHER BASE, THE RUNNER WAITS UNTIL THE
MAN WHO IS CATCHING AT THE BASE HE WISHES TO RUN TO,
HAS JUST THROWN THE BALL. THE RUNNER TAKES OFF FOR
THE OTHER BASE AND TRIES TO TAG IT BEFORE THE OTHER
CATCHER GETS THE BALL AND THROWS IT BACK. IF HE DOES
THROW IT BACK AND THE CATCHER TAGS HIM WITH IT BEFORE
HE GETS TO BASE, HE IS OUT AND MUST TAKE THE CATCHER'S
PLACE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
STREET BASKETBALL
AFTER A BASKET IS MADE IN STREET BASKETBALL, THE
TEAM WHICH HAS JUST BEEN SCORED AGAINST GETS
THE BALL OUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; ILLINOIS ; GLENVIEW
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-05-1970
STREET BASKETBALL
THE WAY WE PLAY STREET BASKETBALL IS THAT AFTER A
BASKET IS SCORED, THE TEAM WHICH SCORED GETS TO
TAKE THE BALL OUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
STREET BASEBALL
THIS IS BASEBALL PLAYED IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE THAT
IS DIFFERENT FROM LEAGUE RULES ONLY IN A FEW
INSTANCES. THE BASES ARE FORMED IN THE SPACE OF
TWO STREET SQUARES. IT IS INDICATED IN THE
DIAGRAM (ON BACK OF 5 X 8 CARD). THE BALL IS EITHER
A HARD BALL, A RUBBER BALL, OR A WHIFFLE BALL.
IF YOU HIT THE CURB, YOU ARE AWARDED A GROUND-RULE
DOUBLE. IF THE BALL ROLLS UNDER A CAR, YOU GET A
GROUND-RULE DOUBLE. THE PITCHERS MOUND WAS OUT
FOR FIRST BASE, AND IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH
MEN TO RUN THE BASES, YOU WERE AWARDED "INVISIBLE MEN"
WHO ADVANCED THE SAME NUMBER OF BASES AS THE MAN
BEHIND THEM DID.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
SLAUGHTER PONG
THE GAME IS A COMBINATION OF SLAUGHTER-BALL, HAND-BALL
AND PING-PONG. IT AROSE WHEN SOME FELLOWS FOUND
THEMSELVES WITH A PING-PONG PADDLE AND BALL, A HAND-
BALL GLOVE AND NO GAME ROOM. USING A HALL WITH ALL
DOORS SHUT, THE TWO PLAYERS GOT ON OPPOSITE ENDS OF
THE HALL AND PROCEEDED TO TRY TO HAVE THE PING-PONG
BALL HIT THE BACK WALL ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE
HALL. THE BALL MAY REBOUND OFF THE FLOOR, WALLS
OR CEILING. THE PLAYER GAINS A POINT EACH TIME THE
PING-PONG BALL TOUCHES THE OPPOSITE REAR WALL. THE BALL
IS DEAD IF IT ROLLS ON THE FLOOR AND MUST THEN BE SERVED
BY THE PERSON WHOSE SIDE IT HAS ROLLED ON. THE SERVE
IS LIKE THAT OF A HANDBALL SERVE. THE GAME GOES UNTIL
A NUMBER OF POINTS (SPECIFIED BEFORE THE GAME--USUALLY
25 OR 50) HAS BEEN SCORED BY ONE OF THE PLAYERS. THE
PLAYER WHO BREAKS THE PING-PONG BALL (NORMALLY 4 TO 6
ARE LOST IN A GAME) LOSES A POINT.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS ATTENDING A SEMINARY WHICH HAS HANDBALL
COURTS AND PING-PONG TABLE. HE SAYS SEVERAL OTHER
SECONDHAND GAMES HAVE ARISEN THROUGH LACK OF EQUIP-
MENT BUT CANNOT THINK OF ANY SPECIFICALLY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
PIG OR COW
THIS IS A BASKETBALL GAME. THE PLAYERS CHOOSE A
SHOOTING ORDER TO START THE GAME. THE FIRST MAN TAKES
ANY KIND OF SHOT HE WANTS TO. IF HE MAKES IT, THE
SECOND MAN MUST DO THE EXACT SAME SHOT. IF HE MISSES,
THEN THE SECOND MAN CAN MAKE ANY SHOT HE WANTS. ONCE
A SHOT IS MADE, THE PLAYERS KEEP SHOOTING IN SEQUENCE
UNTIL SOMEONE MISSES. THE PERSON WHO MISSES IS THEN
GIVEN A LETTER OF AN ANIMAL. I.E., COW. IF THE PERSON
MISSES THREE SHOTS AND GETS THREE LETTERS, C-O-W, THEN
HE IS OUT OF THE GAME. YOU KEEP SHOOTING UNTIL ONLY
ONE PLAYER IS LEFT. HE IS THE WINNER.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HIS FRIENDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
PEGI-MOVE-UP
THE GAME IS USUALLY PLAYED WITH THREE PEOPLE. ONE
PLAYER IS AT BAT, ONE IS THE PITCHER AND THE OTHER
PLAYS THE FIELD. PITCHER'S HANDS IS OUT. AFTER
THE BATTER GETS THREE OUTS, THEN HE PLAYS THE FIELD,
THE FIELDER PITCHES AND THE PITCHER BATS. EACH
PLAYER KEEPS HIS OWN SCORE. OTHERWISE, THE SAME RULES
OF BASEBALL APPLY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; ILLINOIS ; GLENVIEW
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-30-1970
PASS THE BALL
THE OBJECT OF THIS GAME IS TO AVOID BEING THE ONE WHO
IS HOLDING THE BALL WHEN THE RHYME IS FINISHED.
THE CHILDREN STAND IN A RING TOSSING THE BALL AS
SOON AS IT IS CAUGHT. AT THE SAME TIME THEY CHANT:
THE MAGIC BALL GOES ROUND AND ROUND,
PASS IT QUICKLY YOU ARE BOUND.
AND IF YOU'RE THE ONE
TO HAVE IT LAST,
THE GAME IS OVER
AND YOU ARE OUT!
THE GAME CONTINUES UNTIL ALL BUT ONE CHILD IS OUT.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM GRADE SCHOOL FRIENDS IN PITTSBURGH.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
NERVOUS WRECK
THIS IS A CHILDREN'S GAME. THE CHILDREN FORM A CIRCLE.
THERE IS A CHILD IN THE MIDDLE WHO HAS A BALL.
EACH OF THE CHILDREN CROSSES HIS ARMS. THE PERSON
IN THE MIDDLE EITHER FAKES OR THROWS THE BALL TO ONE
OF THE CHILDREN IN THE CIRCLE. IF THE CHILD DOESN'T
CATCH THE BALL WHEN IT IS THROWN OR TRIES TO CATCH THE
BALL WHEN THE PERSON IN THE CENTER DOESN'T THROW IT,
THAT CHILD IS OUT.
Submitter comment:
SHE LEARNED IT FROM THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT IN
LINCOLN PARK, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; LINCOLN PARK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 04-06-1967
500
THIS IS A BALL GAME PLAYED WITH ONE BATTER AND ANY
NUMBER OF FIELDERS. THE BATTER TOSSES THE BALL UP
AND HITS IT TO THE FIELDERS, WHO TRY TO CATCH IT.
THE MAN WHO CATCHES IT THEN THROWS THE BALL IN TO THE
BATTER WHO HAS LAID HIS BAT ON THE GROUND. IF THE BALL
HITS THE BAT, THE MAN WHO THROWS THE BALL IS THE NEXT
BATTER. THE FIELDERS ARE ALSO AWARDED POINTS FOR
CATCHING DIFFERENT KINDS OF HITS. A FLY BALL IS
WORTH 100 POINTS, AND A GROUNDER OR BOUNCER IS WORTH 50.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
500
THIS IS A BALL GAME WHERE THE IDEA IS TO GET TO BAT.
TO GET TO BAT, YOU MUST ACCUMULATE 500 POINTS FROM
CATCHING BALLS. YOU GOT 100 FOR A FLY, 75 FOR ONE
BOUNCE, 50 FOR TWO BOUNCES, AND 25 FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
IF YOU DROPPED THE BALL, YOU HAD THE POINT VALUE OF
THAT ARTICULAR HIT SUBTRACTED FROM YOUR SCORE. IF
YOU GOT 500 POINTS, YOU WERE THE NEW BATTER.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HIS FRIENDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
500
THIS IS A BALL GAME WHERE YOU TRIED TO GET TO BAT BY
AMASSING 500 POINTS FIELDING BALLS. YOU GOT 50
FOR A LINE DRIVE, 25 FOR A FLY, 10 FOR A BOUNCER OR
GROUNDER. IF YOU DROPPED THE BALL, YOU HAD THE
POINT VALUE OF THE HIT DEDUCTED FROM YOUR SCORE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM A FRIEND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
FIREBALL
THIS IS A BALL GAME PLAYED WITH A TENNIS BALL. EVERYONE
GETS A NUMBER; THE PERSON WHO IS IT THROWS THE BALL
UP AND CALLS A NUMBER. THE PERSON WHOSE NUMBER HE
CALLED MUST CATCH THE BALL, WHILE THE OTHERS RUN AWAY.
WHEN HE CATCHES IT, HE YELLS "FIRE" AND EVERYONE STOPS.
THEN HE TRIES TO HIS (HIT?) ONE OF THEM WITH THE BALL.
IF A PERSON IS HIT A CERTAIN NUMBER OF TIMES, HE IS
OUT OF THE GAME.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HIS FATHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-00-1967